Cordless electric vibrating hair brush, or like vibrating manipulators



W. P. RICHARDSON CORDLESS ELECTRIC VIBRATING HAIR BRUSH, OR

Dec. 19, 1967 LIKE VIBRATING MANIPULATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DeC. 27. 1965 1 N VEN TOR.

7'7'0R/VEX De@ 19, 1967 w. P. RICHARDSON 3,358,309

CORDLESS ELECTRIC VIBRATING HAIR BRUSH, OR

LIKE VIBRATING MANIPULATORS Filed DEC. 27, 1965 E Sheets-Sheet 2 Pfr;

@4 P WHG.

United States Patent O 3,358,309 CORDLESS ELECTRIC VIBRATING HAIR BRUSH, OR LIKE VIBRATING MANIPULATORS William P. Richardson, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Empire Brushes, Inc., Port Chester, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,293 i 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-22) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A battery opera-ted vibrating brush in which the body is split'longitudinally into a lower body part and an upper body part with a brush element slidably mounted on the lower body part, and with the motor and battery to be mounted on the lower body part and the body parts being attached together with hold-down means for the motor and the battery, the battery being controlled by a switch on a handle forming part of the body.

This invention relates broadly to the art of cordless electric appliances, and more particularly to a cordless electric vibrating hair brush, or like vibrating manipulators.

An object of this invention is to provide a cordless electric vibrating hair brush of the character described wherein the brush head may be easily removed from the remainder of the appliance so that the brush head may be cleaned or replaced with the same or other heads such as massagers or the like, and wherein the head in use is held in place by resilient means.

f Another object of this invention is to provide a cordless electric vibrating hair brush of the character described wherein the vibrating action makes each brush stroke more effective, and which massages the scalp, stimulates hair growth, and distributes natural hair oils, so that the hair becomes more lustrous and glows with health, and wherein the vibrating means may be turned ott whereupon the appliance functions as a brush for smoothing hair into place.`

fA further object of this invention is to provide a cordless electric vibrating hair brush of the character described wherein the body ishollow and comprises an elongated head and an elongated handle extending longitudinally beyond said head with the head projecting down below said handle, said body being split longitudinally through the head and handle to provide an upper body part hollow at its underside and comprising a portion of the head and a portion of the handle, and a lower body part hollow at its upperside and comprising a portion of the head and a portion of the handle, with the head portion of the lower body part projecting down below said handle portion of lthe lower body part, said body parts having complementary meeting peripheral edges, an elect-ric motor attached to said head, a battery in said head, said motor and battery being disposed in tandem, a switch adjacent the junction of the handle and head, means in said body to mount said switch, said switch including a switch element projecting through an opening in said body to one side of said body, a brush means at the underside of the head portion of said lower part and projecting downwardly therefrom.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cordless electric vibrating hair brush of the character described wherein the two parts are joined together bythe combination of notch and hook means at the front of the body portion, a pair of bosses which contact when the parts are put together to form a supporting column, and edge means all around to thereby form a strong body assembly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cordless electric vibrating hair brush of the character i3,358,309 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 ICC described wherein the entire appliance vibrates, not only the working head thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cordless electric vibrating hair brush of the character described which looks like and is light enough to be used as an ordinary hair brush when the vibrating means are not in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cordless electric vibrating hair brush of the character described which shall be economical to manufacture, pleasing in appearance, and strong and durable yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction herein after described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which are shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cordless electric vibrating hair brush embodying the invention, with some parts broken away;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 2 2 and 3 3 of FIG. 1 respectively;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial, external, elevational view thereof;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 6 6, 7 7, and 8 8 of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, respectively;

FIG. 9 is a plan view similar to a portion of FIG. 1 showing a modiiication;

FIGS. 10 and 1l are cross-sectional views taken on lines 10-1() and 11-11, respectively, of FIG. 9; and

FIG. l2 is a schematic wiring diagram of a modification of the electrical system. Y Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a cordless electric vibrating hair brush or the like article embodying the invention. Appliance 10 comprises an appliance body 12, and some manipulating means such as a brush head 14 removably mounted thereon. Body 12 comprises a bottom body part 16 and a top body part 18 removably secured thereto.

Bottom body part 16 comprises a bottom wall 20 and a pair of bottom wall extensions 22 spaced slightly above bottom wall 22 and parallel thereto. The longitudinal side Vof wall 20 is transversely curved as at 26. A connecting portion 28 connects the front ends of extensions 22 forwardly of surface 26. Extending downwardly from wall 20 are a pair of integral pressure clip mounting lugs 30, on which is mounted a spring pressure clip 32, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

Extending upwardly from bottom walls 20, 22,V is a transversely curved front wall 34. Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear ends of walls 2t), 22 is a rear wall 36, from which extends rearwardly a bottom handle wall 38. Extending upwardly from the rear end of wall 38 is a handle portion rear end wall 40. A pair of side walls 42 interconnect walls 40, 38, 36, 20, 22 and 34. Walls 36, 33, 40 and 42 are joined with smooth, compound curves to produce a pleasing appearance and an easily manipulated handle. The inside, upper edges of walls 36, 40 and 42 are notched substantially all around as at 44 for a reason appearing below. Notch 44 is broken by a thickened portion 46 in the center of front end wall 34. Below portion 46, wall 34 is formed with a depression 48 for a reason appearing below.

3 Wall 38 adjacent wall 36, is formed with a circular, inwardly depressed portion 50 having a hollow boss 52 extending inwardly therefrom. At its inner end boss 52 is formed with an enlarged diameter portion 54, and at its 'outer end with'a reduced diameter portion V56.v A screw 58 is trapped in boss 52, as by being molded in situ, and comprises ahead 60, a reduced diameter, rela tively long shank 62, and an enlarged diameter threaded bead 64.

"Portion 56 of the boss is of Onlyslightly large-r diameter than the reduced shank of the screw, and thus screw 58 can move in the boss an amount substantially equal to the Alength of the shank. A cross`rib 66 may be provided to strengthen the boss.

Wall 36 is formed with an integral, inwardly extending boss 68 to which a spring contact 70 is secured by screw 72.

Side wall 42 is notched out as at 74, and the adjacent portion of side wall 42 is thickened as at 76. A ledge 78 is provided at the bottom of thickened portion 76. Rib

66 ends short of and in spaced relation to portion 76, .rearwardly of notch 74, see FIG. 1. An L shaped switch retaining bracket 80 extends from the inside of wall 36 in spaced relation to ledge 78. The outer end of the long .leg of bracket 80 terminates short of and in spaced rela- 84. Means are provided to clamp the motor in position. To

this end, a pair of columns 92 extend inwardly from walls .22 on either side of motor M. A curved clamp member 94 tits snugly against the top of motor M, and has its ends secured to the tops of columns '92 as by screws 96.

A single D size -dry cell or battery B is the source of electric current for motor M, and means are provided to mountthe celll in tandem with the motor in bottom body part 16. A battery chamber defining andV reinforcing wall 98 extends inwardly from walls 20, 22 and across .the outer portions of walls 42. Wall 98y includes thickened portions 100 for extra strength. Between wall 98 and rear contact 70 are a pair of cellsupporting walls 102 which are transversely curved to match the curvature .of cell B.

Top body part 18 comprises a longitudinally curved top wall 104, a front wall 106, a rear wall 108, and a pair of side walls 110. Front wall 106 is transversely curved to match the curvature of wall 34, and at its outer portion is formed with a downwardly extending lug 112 having a forwardly extending lug 114 at its lower end which tits into notch or depression 48 to lock the two body parts together.

Extending downwardly from top wall 104 are a pair of cell supporting walls 116 which are positioned above walls 102 when the body parts are t together, and which lare curved at their inner ends to match the curvature of .other suitable means, to wall 104 to press against cell B to hold it in place.

Extending inwardly from wall 104 is a boss 122 having a diameter substantially equalto the diameter of boss and 52 towards each other until they contact, thereby effectively forming a supporting column within theassembled body parts. A strengthening rib 128 extends out transversely from either side of boss 122.

One side wall 110 is notched out as at 130 to match notch 74 to thereby form an opening for a switch as will appear below. Wall 110 adjacent notch 130 is thickened as at 132. A switch positioning abutment block 133 extends from top wall 104Y in spaced relation to thickened portion 132.

The edges of walls 110, 108 and 106, except Where interrupted by notch 130 and lug .112, are formed with a lip 134 all around, which mates with notch 44 to securely and accurately hold the body parts together.

A switch 136, having terminals 138 and 140 and a slider 142 is seated between the body halves, and is held in place by having a pair of etxendng wings 144 thereof held between portions 76 and 80"on one side, land 66 and 76 on the other side, FIG. 1. The switch sits on ledge 78, and is additionally held in place by bracket- 80 and block 133.*Thus slider 142 may be operated in the assembled appliance since it projects through the registering notches 74 and 130, and the switch itself is held stationary.

Series circuit means are provided to electrically connect switch 136, battery B and motor M. A wire 146 connects terminal 138 to contact 70; a wire 148 connects contact 90 to one terminal of motor M; and a wire 150 connects the other terminal of motor M to terminal 140 of the switch to complete the circuit.

Thus, when slider 142 is moved to close the circuit, weight W will be rotated by motor M, and since motor M is rigidly attached to the appliance, the whole appliance k,will vibrate.

The drawings show a `brush head 14 attached to the appliance. It is to be understood that the appliance can nalso be used with Vfoam pador plastic pin massagers, as well as other heads as will be obvious to those skilled in this art.

Head 14 comprises a longitudinal, transversely curved body portion 152 having a pluarality of bristles 153 attached thereto in the well known manner. The center of 4body 152 is formed into a concave longitudinal slot 154 .to clear spring clip 32 attached to wall 20 by lugs 30 which are swaged to hold the clip. The front end of body 152 is notslotted and comprises an upstanding wall 156 nwhich abuts against the. front end of vwall 20 to locate the head on the appliance. The sides of slot 154 are .formed into V grooves 158 to receive the side edges of -wall 20 with a dove-tail lit'. The longitudinal sides of body V 152 may be formed with slots 160. When the head is at+ ,tached to the appliance, spring 32 is compressed and firm- 52. Press t into boss 122 is a bushing 124, preferably of metal, whose outside surface is knurled or serrated as at 126 so that it bites into the material of and holds in boss 122, and whose inside diameter is threaded to match threaded bead 64. A part of bushing 124 extends inwardly Y Vly holds the head in place. A positive push of the head in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 is required to dis-assemble the head from the appliance. Y v

In FIG. l2 is shown the wiring diagram for an alter# nate electrical system which may be used in the above ,or the VVfollowing structure, having means. to run motor M at one of two speeds. The change from the circuitde- Vscribed above is that a switch 136a is substituted for switch 136. Switch 13611 comprises four contacts160, 162, 164 and 166, and a three position slider 168 which ,may electrically interconnect any two adjacent contacts. A line connects contact 162 -to one side of battery'B, a line 172 connects the other sideV of the battery to one' side of motor M, and a line 174 connects the other side 'of themotor to contact v160 of switch 136a. A suitable resistance -176 is connected across contacts 160 and 164. AResistance 176 may be internal or externalas vto the switch. Thus, when slider 168 is inthe position marked .FAST, in FIG. 12 with no extra resistance in the icir, cuit, the motor goes at its fastest speed, ,and when it is in the SLOW position the circuitincludesV resistance .176 thereby cutting downth'e amount of current reaching the motor which causes 'the motor to run moreslowlyt This two speed circuit, as well as the rst circuit above described, may be used in the modiled structure now to be described.

In FIGS. 9 to 11 is shown a modified structure 10a which is the same as the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, except as hereinafter specifically pointed out, and similar parts are indicated by the same reference numeral followed by 11.

In place of lugs 30 there is provided a pair of rivets 200 which extend through wall 20a and join spring clip 32a to motor mounting bracket 202. Bracket 202 is of U shape, is preferably made of spring metal, and comprises a front upstanding leg 204, a rear upstanding leg 206, and a central cross portion 208 to which rivets 200 are attached. Legs 204 and 206 are formed with suitable openings in which motor M is mounted. Leg 204 may be split as at 210 for ease of assembly. Leg. 206 has a bent over tail 212 which serves the function of spring contact 90 in the first embodiment described above. A block 214, similar to blocks 120 and 120a is fastened as by glue to top wall 104:1 and serves to hold the motor securely in place.

While the drawing only shows a brush as a manipulating means, it will be understood that the manipulating means may comprise not only a brush, it may also comprise a massaging member provided with a plurality of resilient, rubber or plastic pins or fingers to stimulate the scalp and helps remove dandruff or the manipulating element may comprise a soft poly foam massager for easing tense muscles.

The term manipulating means or brush as used in the specification and claims is hence intended to mean any form of soft, flexible-or pliable elements to be applied to the hair, scalp or skin of the one to whom the appliance described herein is being applied.

It will thus -be seen that there is provided an article and apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a hollow body comprising a head and a handle, and means in said head for vibrating said body, said head and handle being in alignment, said body being split longitudinally through said body and handle into upper and lower coextensive body parts having peripheral meeting edges, means to attach said body parts together, said lower body part having a bottom wall at its head end disposed below said handle, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transverse walls extending up from said bottom wall, an electric motor disposed longitudinally between said upwardly extending walls, said motor having a shaft supported on one of said upwardly extending walls, olfset weight means on said shaft, a spring contact on the other upwardly extending wall, conductively connected to said motor and extending rearwardly therefrom, a second spring contact mounted on said lower body part and extending forwardly, a dry battery mounted in the lower body part in tandem with said motor, and between said spring contacts, and having its terminals engaging said spring contacts, said motor and battery projecting upwardly into the upper body part, means to hold said motor down on said lower body part and means to hold said battery down on the lower body part, and manipulating means longitudinally slidably mounted on the underside of said bottom wall, said motor and battery being liftable upwardly ot said lower body part upon removing said motor hold down means and said battery hold down mans, said attach means comprising means at one end of one body part to hookingly and disengageably engage the adjacent end of said other body part, means on said parts other than said meeting edges to abut each other, and screw means in said abut means to removably screw one part to the other.

2. In combination, a hollow body comprising a head and a handle, and means in said head for vibrating said body, said head and handle being in alignment, said body being split longitudinally through said body and handle into upper and lower coextensive body parts having pe ripherlmeeting edges, means to attach said body parts together, said lower body part having a bottom wall at its head end disposed below said handle, a pair of longitudinally spaced, transverse walls extending up from said bottom wall, an electric motor disposed longitudinally between said upwardly extending walls, said motor having a shaft supported on one of said upwardly extending walls, oiset weight means on said shaft, a spring contact on the other upwardly extending wall, conductively connected to said motor and extending rearwardly therefrom, a second spring contact mounted on said lower body part and extending forwardly, a dry battery mounted in the lower body part in tandem with said motor, and between said spring contacts, and having its terminals engaging said spring contacts, said motor and battery projecting upwardly into the upper body part, means to hold said motor down on said lower body part and means to hold said battery down on the lower body part, and manipulating means longitudinally slidably mounted on the underside of said bottom wall, said motor and vbattery being liftable upwardly olf said lower body part upon removing said motor hold down means and said battery hold down means, said upwardly extending walls being integral with said bottom wall, said motor being disposed between and having its ends located adjacent said upwardly extending walls, said means to hold said motor down on said lower body part comprising a pair of supporting members extending upwardly from said bottom wall and disposed at the sides of said motor, and a clamp means bridging said motor and attached to said support members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,608,859 11/ 1926 Pinkston. 2,489,582 11/ 1949 McCready 15-22 2,540,792 2/ 1951 McCready. 2,676,347 4/ 1954 Hershey 15 22 2,709,227 5/ 1955 Foley et al. 15-22 X 2,714,788 8/ 1955 Di Giovanna 15-22 X 2,935,072 5/ 1960 Jones et al. 3,043,996 7/1962 Hartwig et al. 15-412 3,115,139 12/ 1963 Schneider. 3,196,298 7/ 1965 Kent.

3,277,509 10/ 1966 McNair et al. 154-176 3,278,963 10/ 1966 Bond 15-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 330,573 6/ 1930 Great Britain. 899,618 6/ 1962 Great Britain,

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A HOLLOW BODY COMPRISING A HEAD AND A HANDLE, AND MEANS IN SAID HEAD FOR VIBRATING SAID BODY, SAID HEAD AND HANDLE BEING IN ALIGNMENT, SAID BODY BEING SPLIT LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID BODY AND HANDLE INTO UPPER AND LOWER COEXTENSIVE BODY PARTS HAVING PERIPHERAL MEETING EDGES, MEANS TO ATTACH SAID BODY PARTS TOGETHER, SAID LOWER BODY PART HAVING A BOTTOM WALL AT ITS HEAD END DISPOSED BELOW SAID HANDLE, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED, TRANSVERSE WALLS EXTENDING UP FROM SAID BOTTOM WALL, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALLS, SAID MOTOR HAVING A SHAFT SUPPORTED ON ONE OF SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALLS, OFFSET WEIGHT MEANS ON SAID SHAFT, A SPRING CONTACT ON THE OTHER UPWARDLY EXTENDING WALL, CONDUCTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM, A SECOND SPRING CONTACT MOUNTED ON SAID LOWER BODY PART AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY, A DRY BATTERY MOUNTED IN THE LOWER BODY PART IN TANDEM WITH SAID MOTOR, AND BETWEEN SAID SPRING CONTACTS, AND HAVING ITS TERMINALS ENGAGING SAID SPRING CONTACTS, SAID MOTOR AND BATTERY PROJECTING UPWARDLY INTO THE UPPER BODY PART, MEANS TO HOLD SAID MOTOR DOWN ON SAID LOWER BODY PART AND MEANS TO HOLD SAID BATTERY DOWN ON THE LOWER BODY PART, AND MANIPULATING MEANS LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID BOTTON WALL, SAID MOTOR AND BATTERY BEING LIFTABLE UPWARDLY OFF SAID LOWER BODY PART UPON REMOVING SAID MOTOR HOLD DOWN MEANS AND SAID BATTERY HOLD DOWN MANS, SAID ATTACH MEANS COMPRISING MEANS AT ONE END OF ONE BODY PART TO HOOKINGLY AND DISENGAGEABLY ENGAGE THE ADJACENT END OF SAID BODY PART, MEANS ON SAID PARTS OTHER THAN SAID MEETING EDGES TO ABUT EACH OTHER, AND SCREW MEANS IN SAID ABUT MEANS TO REMOVABLY SCREW ONE PART TO THE OTHER. 